This level of editing addresses the manuscript in its entirety, and entails assessing argument, structure, and organization. Does it make sense to lead with the chapter about theory, or would it be more effective to begin with an overview of the key case study? Should the progression be chronological, thematic, or some interweaving of the two? Does this section require a greater degree of explanation than you’ve provided thus far? Is this other section wordy and pedantic in tone?

These are the sorts of questions I can help you resolve at this level of editing. I use my expertise in writing, editing, and reviewing to act as a sympathetic yet rigorous outside reader. I coach you through the process of turning your research and ideas into a persuasive, eloquent argument.

Because of the interactive and open-ended nature of this type of editing, I charge by the hour for this service; depending on your budget, a cap may be set ahead of time as to the number of hours or total cost to be reached.

❀ Copyediting ❀

Copyediting entails correction at the level of the page, paragraph, sentence, and word, plus punctuation. It is generally performed after a full draft of the manuscript has been completed, when there is interest in further revision but not in substantially reworking the manuscript. The goal of copyediting is to ensure that your text is clear, grammatically correct, properly formatted, and consistent. So I will correct errors in grammar, punctuation, and format. I will also offer suggestions for reworking unclear sentences and ensuring a consistent voice across the manuscript. The end result should sound like the best version of your professional self.

Note: If you are a scholar concerned about your fluency in written English, this is the service that will be of most value to you. Copyediting is also of value for websites and other internet platforms for sharing content, such as blogs.

This service is generally billed by the page (1 page = 250 words) according to the extent of correction needed.

❀ Proofreading ❀

Proofreading is performed on a manuscript that has gone through its final revision, and is one of the last steps to be executed prior to publication. The goal of proofreading is to clean up the text and remove small errors prior to publication, not to significantly alter the writing itself. So proofreading will involve spotting and correcting typos, making sure that minor grammatical mistakes are fixed (such as subject-verb agreement), and ensuring consistency in how things like punctuation and spacing are handled.

Because of the nature of these changes, proofreading should not be performed on a manuscript that will undergo further amendment; to proofread such a document is generally a waste of time and money. In such situations, copyediting is more appropriate.

This service is billed by the page (1 page = 250 words) according to the extent of correction needed.

❀ Formatting ❀

Usually performed in conjunction with copyediting, formatting is also available separately. It includes a variety of possible services, from ensuring that your document uses the same styles throughout and is paginated properly, to adjusting the layout of tables and images, to ensuring visual clarity in documents like syllabi and curricula vitae, to converting citations in MLA format to Chicago and endnotes to footnotes (or the reverse).* Formatting is primarily concerned with the appearance of the document, rather than its content.

If requested as a separate service, billing will be by project, depending on the nature and extent of correction desired.

*At this time I am looking into adding e-book formatting to my offerings; if you're interested in this and are willing to put up with some inexperience in exchange for a reduced rate, please let me know.

❀ Indexing ❀

Performed at the last stage before publication, indexing is a service that is particularly important for nonfiction and scholarly books. A good index will enable your readers to efficiently access the parts of your argument that are of most interest to them, and generally enhances the appeal of your book. As a result, most publishers of such manuscripts will expect finished books to include an index. While a few of them still provide such services in-house, the great majority of scholarly presses prefer to leave this responsibility in the hands of the authors themselves.

This is where I come in: my training in indexing through the American Society of Indexers and my experience with scholarly texts means that I can produce an effective index that captures the tone and content of your book efficiently and under deadline, saving you time and frustration.

This service is billed by proof page, with the per-page rate adjusted relative to the density and complexity of the information to be indexed. (Only pages with indexable content are included in the count; sections such as bibliographies or tables of contents are usually excluded.)

❀ Book Reviews ❀

These can range from short objective abstracts describing a book's contents and approach, to longer critical analyses of a work's strengths, weaknesses, and place in the relevant literature, depending on your needs.

Note: I will not write puff-piece reviews; part of what you are paying me for is an honest, informed, and thoughtful analysis. That said, if I feel I will be unable to write a generally positive review for a specific text, I will let you know, so that you can decide whether you are comfortable with paying for a negative review.

Pricing for this service will be quoted on a per-project basis, depending on the nature and extent of the work.

❀ Research ❀

This service includes tracking down, organizing, and summarizing information on a topic, with proper citations. Basically, I will serve as your agent in pursuit of primary and secondary sources relevant to your area of interest.

Pricing will be determined according to the nature and extent of the project and the types of materials involved. Billing can be done on an hourly or a by-project basis, depending on your needs, budget, and type of work required.

❀ Non-Fiction Writing ❀

I can provide a variety of scholarly and general-audience non-fiction pieces, ranging from short blurbs or encyclopedia entries, to longer scholarly essays. My particular areas of expertise include the following subjects: environmental history and environmental studies, history of the American West, U.S. history, American Indian history, nature and nature writing, crafts and hobbies, outdoor recreation, social media including blogging, and animals.

Contact me for a quote, as pricing depends on a wide range of variables.